Bucket.



J. L. BUTLER.

BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1909.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

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J. L. BUTLER.

BUGKET.

I I AYPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1909. 989,832. Patented Apr. 18,1911.

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THE :voRms PETERS co., WASHINGTON, 0. c1

J. L. BUTLER.

I BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY30,1909.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

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DRRISPETERS co, ASHINDTON, n. c.

JAMES I1- BUTLER, OIE ALLIANCE, OHIO.

BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 30, 1909.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Serial No. 510,349.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckets, of which thefollowing is a specification.

A. simplified and compact mechanism for grab buckets which will at thesame time be economical to manufacture and efficient and eifective inoperation is one of the salient objects of the present invention. Thestructural features and advantages of a desirable embodiment of saidinvention are set forth in the following description, which should beconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification and whrein Figure 1 is a side elevation of such abucket showing the same in closed position in full lines and in openrelation in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a partial central transverse sectionand partial elevation of the appliance; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section through the upper portion of the operating mechanism;and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same parts at right anglesto the section of Fig. 3.

The bucket proper consists in reality of two open-mouth sharp-edgedcompanion buckets or shovels 10 and 11, the two mouths of which areshown in register and the buckets in closed relation in full lines inFig. 1. Each bucket has fastened or secured by means of rivets orotherwise to the inner faces of its side walls near the mouth of thebucket a pair of brackets 12 and 13, the four brackets having bosses 14,15, 16 and 17 (Fig. 2) at their upper ends apertured in alinement forthe reception and accommodation of a hinge pin or rod 18 which forms ahinge connection between the two buckets in substantially the planes oftheir months. To retain or maintain such hinge rod or pin in properposition its opposite ends are supplied with retaining collars 19 fixedthereto in any approved or desirable manner. To limit the opening orload-discharging movement of such companion and cooperating buckets, theouter face of each bracket or arm 13 is equipped with an integralstop-lug 20, co-acting with which is a stop finger 21 of the bracket 12of the other bucket, such parts contacting, as is indicated in Fig. 1,when the buckets reach their limit of opening movement.

Above the bucket the appliance includes a hollow tubular bucket support22 having at its upper end a pair of apertured spaced ears 23 and 24, inthe registering apertures or holes of which a pin or bolt 25 is fittedto secure to such support an eye or loop 26 adapted for attachment toany suitable form of hoisting and lowering means, not illustrated. Alongits sides this tubular support is provided with a pair of longitudinalguiding ribs 27 which cooperate with and prevent the rotation of asupporting collar 28 slidable lengthwise on such tubular support andapertured vertically for the reception of the same and the ribs 27. Thelower end of the bucket support 22 is externally screw- .threaded at 29for securing thereto a combined stop and guide 30 apertured at 31concentric to the axis of support 22 and operating as a stop or abutmentto limit the descent of the member 28 on the support, the bottom of suchmember being recessed at 32 for the accommodation of the upper portionof such member. Extended outwardly and in opposite directions from thismember 28 is a pair of alined shafts or rods 33 and 34, the innerthreaded ends 35 of which are fitted in correspondingly threadedrecesses 36 of member 28. Each of such rods has mounted thereon theupper apertured boss ends of a pair of links 37, 37 the lower ends ofwhich are pivoted at 38 to upstanding cars 39 integral with brackets 12and 13. For the retention of the ends of these links on the pins or rods83 and 34 the outer ends of the latter are supplied with collars 40fixed thereto in any approved manner.

The central portion of the hinge pin 18 has mounted thereon a sleeve 41between the bosses 15 and 16 of the bucket brackets, and threaded intothe top of such. sleeve is a plunger 42, the diameter of the greaterportion of which is substantially equal to that of the guiding aperture31, while the cylindrical top end of such plunger 43 is of greaterdiameter and has a sliding fitin the interior of the support 22. At itsextreme upper end this plunger is supplied with. an integral eye 44,cooperating with which I provide a latch 45 having a downwardly-extendedelongated tail 46 located outside of the hollow support 22, the hookportion of such latch being disposed between the cars 23 and 24 andadapted to engage the eye 44. Such latch 45 is pivotally connected at 47to a link 48 freely rotatable on a cross-pin 49 supported in the twoears 23 and 24. As is clearly shown the bottom face 50 of this latch isbeveled or inclined and the tail or depending portion 46 of the latchhas secured thereto an operating cord 51, adapted when conditionsrequire it to detach the latch from the eye or loop 44 to permitdischarge of the load. It should also be observed that when the plunger42, is unlatched the inward swinging of the latch is limited andrestricted by its striking against the bottom 52 of the slot between theears 23 and 24 so as to maintain the beveled por tion 50 of the latch insuch position that it will be engaged and the latch thrown back by theloop 44L when the support and the latch which it carries are permittedto descend relatively to the plunger.

The operation of this improved mechanism is practically as follows:l-tssuming that the buckets are in the closed relation shown in Fig. 1and hold their load, the latter may be readily dropped or discharged bythe operator pulling the cord 51, which action releases the latch L5from the eye or loop 50, thereby freeing the plunger 42, 43 andpermitting the same and the hinge connection between the buckets todescend due to their own weight and that of the load, the buckets beingsupported by the links 37, as will be readily understood, and theopening movement of such buckets being limited by the cooperating stops20 and 21. In other words, each of the buckets is supported at a pointsome distance back from its mouth, and the hinge connection between thetwo buckets, which is in substantially the plane of such mouths, ispermitted to descend, allowing the buckets to open to the dotted lineposition indicated in the figure. hen it is desired to have thesecompanion buckets pick or grab up a load of sand or other material, thebuckets in their open relation are permitted to rest upon the body ofsand or the like. The hoisting and lowering mechanism is then lowered topermit the holder or support 22 carrying the latch 45 to descend, saidholder being guided during its descent by the plunger 43 and the member28. lVheu the holder or support has been lowered suffieiently the latch45 operatively and automatically engages the loop 44: of the plunger 42,43, thereby locking the plunger to the support 22. The automatic actionof this latch is brought about by gravity acting thereon, the center ofgravity of such latch normally being at one side of its supportat itstop end. As the carrier or support 22 and the latch are lowered thebeveled under surface engages the top of the loop 44 and is temporarilypushed back by the latter, the latch swinging forwardly again as soon asit is free to engage the eye or open portion of such loop. The hangingof such latch on the lmk 48 permits a free and easy action of theformer, whereby its release can be secured with readiness and facility.After the parts have thus become latched or locked together the hoistingdevice is operated to lift the same, which brings about the elevation ofthe hinge connection of the buckets, causing the swinging of the latteron the lower ends of the links 37 to their closed position, such bucketsgrabbing or picking up a load during this closing operation. As will bereadily understood, the buckets are maintained and held in this closedrelation until the latch is again actuated or withdrawn to cause thedischarge or dumping of the load. It should, therefore, be apparent tothose skilled in the art that this embodiment of the invention presentsa compact and effectivemeans for securing the desired operation of thebucket, and it should furthermore be noted that although one embodimentof the invention has been set forth in detail in this application, theessential characteristics and features of the invention are not limitedto this particular exemplification of the same, because the structuralfeatures of the device herein described and illustrated may be changedwithin comparatively wide limits without departure from the heart of theinvention, and without the sacrifice of any of its bene fits andadvantages.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofpivotally connected bucket members, a bucket support, a bucket actuatingdevice slidably mounted upon the support and associated with the pivotalconnection of the bucket members for raising and lowering said pivotalconnection, and means carried near the upper end of said support'forengaging the upper end of said bucket actuating device and locking thesame to the support, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofpivotally connected bucket members, a bucket support, a bucket actuatingdevice connected at one end to the pivotal connection of the buckets andarranged to slide upon said support, and a latch member carried by thebucket support in the path of the upward movement of the bucketactuating device and arranged to engage the latter a-nd lock it to thesupport when said actuating device approaches the upper end of saidsupport, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofpivotally connected bucket members, a tubular bucket support, a bucketactuating device connected with each of said bucket members and mountedto slide within said support, means for locking said support andactuating device together whereby the actuating device will be raisedwith said support to close the buckets, the sliding connection betweenthe support and actuating device permitting the actuating device to droplongitudinally of the support upon the release of said locking meanswhereby to permit the buckets to open, substantially as described.

4:. I11 a device of the character described, the combination of a pairof oppositely disposed buckets, a hinge connection between said bucketsnear the planes of the mouths of such buckets, a bucket support adaptedfor attachment to a hoisting and lowering means, supporting linkspivotally connected to said buckets and slidably connected to saidbucket support, a member connected to each of said buckets and mountedto slide longitudinally of said support, and means to detachablyinterlock said member and said support whereby the buckets may be closedby the raising of said support by said hoisting means when saidsupportis connected to said member, and the buckets may be caused to open whensuch connection between the support and member is broken, substantiallyas described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-dis posed companion open-mouth buckets, a hinge connectionbetween said buckets, a bucket support adapted for attachment to ahoisting and lowering means, means connecting said buckets tosaid bucketsupport, means associated with said hinge connection and slidable uponsaid support, and a detachable connection between said latter means andsaid support whereby the buckets may be closed by the elevation of saidbucket support when said detachable connection is maintained intact andthe buckets permit-ted to open when said detachable connection isbroken, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofoppositelydisposed companion open-mouth buckets, a hinge connectionbetween said buckets, a bucket support, means connecting said buckets tosaid support, means associated with said hinge connection and slidablerelatively to said support, a pin on said support, a link free to turnon said pin, and a latch pivoted to said link and cooperating with saidlatter means to maintain a detachable connection therewith, whereby thebuckets may be closed by the elevation of said support when said latchconnection is intact,

said buckets being permitted to open when said latch connection isbroken, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-disposed companion open-mouth buckets, a hinge connectionbetween said buckets, a hollow bucket support adapted for attachment toa hoisting and lowering means, means connecting said buckets to saidsupport, means on said hinge connection and slidable in said support,and a detachable connection between said latter means and said supportwhereby the buckets may be closed by elevating said support when saidconnection is intact and the buckets permitted to open by breaking saidconnection, substantially as described. I

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofoppositely-disposed companion open-mouth buckets, a hinge connectionbetween said buckets near the planes of their open mouths, a hollowbucket support, links connecting said buckets to said support, meansassociated with said hinge connection and slidable within said support,and a latch adapted to maintain a detachable connection between saidlatter means and said support whereby said buckets may be closed byraising said support when said latch connection is intact and thebuckets permitted to open when said latch connection is broken,substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofoppositely disposed open-mouthed buckets, a hinge connection betweensaid buckets, a bucket actuating device connected with said hingeconnection, a bucket support for slidable engagement with said bucketactuating device, a collar adapted to slide upon said support, linksconnecting said collar wit-h said buckets, and means for detachablyconnecting the actuating device with said support whereby the bucketswill be raised from their hinge connection upon raising of the support,and will swing open and be sup ported from said collar upon release ofsaid detachable connection, substantially as described.

JAMES L. BUTLER. l/Vitnesses:

D. SMELTZ, WM. L. CREBAUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

